Improvement in carriage-steps



I. A. SAWYER, Zd.

Garriage-Step.

.No. ,203,076 Patented April 30,1878.

` surroun ds.

UNITEDST TE PATENT OFFICE. I

p p FRA vcIs A.` sAw ER,2D, OF BOSTON, MAssAcHUsETTs;

IIMPRQYEM ENT IN CARR'IAGE STEPS,

Specific ation formingpart 'of Letters Patent No. 203,()76, dated April 30, 1878; 'application filed January 16, 1878. V

` 2d', of Boston, in the countypf-sufiblk and State'of Massachusetts,`have invente'd an Improvementin Carria'ge-Steps', 'of which the following is a specifi'cation: i

- This invention relates to the class' of steps known as elastic steps; 77 and consists in the vulcanization of a resilientplating to a pe ouliar-shape'd metal plate or pad, whereby the edge of the plating is fully* protected, the plating thoroughly joinedto the pad, and especial provision made for preventing the disturbance of the plating' by lateral thrusts.`

The step is intended ,more particularly for express and heavy wagons, drays, locomotives, and all classes of `vehicles whose steps are subjected to' hardwear.

In the drawing,Figure1 isa plan 'of the step, with a portion of'the plating removed, exposing the' metal plate. Fig. 2sis`a`crosssection of a finished step. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the end of ashanln` Fig& is a plan of a portion of the bottom of the Step'reversed; and Fig.`5 shows 'a modificationof the metal pad, as hereinafter explained.

The metal pad'A is formed preferably from malleable iron' orcasti-s'teel, with its outer edge a extended sonewhat above the plane of the remainder of the upper surface, beveled or rounded on its eXterior,`an`d surrounding thedepressed portion `or channel b immediately ad j acent thereto, and which preferably is somwhat' lower than the plane of the "surfaceit This depressed portion or channel is provided with the holes c, which open on the under side of the plate,`are graduall y enlarged from the channel downwardly, and

may be connected in pairs on the under side of the plate by the short channels d. The portion of the surface of the plate surrounded by channel b may have the concentric grooves and ridges e fashioned thereon; or the surface may be otherwise roughened by being shaped into alternate elevation and depression, arranged to act as abutments to prevent the displacement of the plating by lateral action thereon.

The plate, shaped essentially as above described, is covered on the upper surface, inside the'projecton a, bya plating, B, of indiarubber or other elastic or resilient material, or any composition, when resiliency is 'notrequired, like rubber and any earthy or mineral matter, or any compound that by heat and pr'essure, or by either heat or pressure, can be vulcanize d or otherwise be permanently united to the metal-retainng plate, or packed therein, such aspaper-pulp and any gritty material,

diatite, bitumen, or celluloid, and sand orfinely-pulverized' mineral or earthy matter, or, in fact, any composition which is capable of being molded 'or packedupon the plate in`- side the retaining-wall, possessing a suitable frictional property ;combined with easilymolded compressible cement. In some in'- stances the holes c in the channel could -be dispensed With by inclining' the outer wall a inwardly towa'rd 'its' top, as shown in Fig. 5. I` can also employ, when necessary, the strip of canvas g,`woven in' and 'out the holes, befor'e the plating is applied, in such a way that the portion on the under surface of the plate 'shall be in the Channels d only;

"It will be observed 'that when the platin g is united 'to the plate under heat and pressure, or by either, 'as above described, it is forced into all the grooves and Channels and through the holes into the short channels on the 'under' side of the step, so that the plating is solidly, firmly, and securely knit and joined to the 'plate i It will also be seen that the retaining-wall a not only prevents 'the loosening of the plating' from the plat'e'by continued lateral displacement, but also prevents undue wear on the edge of the plating, and so disposes of it that the greatest value from the least platin g'- stock is obtained; further, that by weavin g the plating into the pad at the base of a retaining-wall insures a very solid Construction, because of the protection of the platin g at that. point from wear.

It will also be observed that the roughened surface of the pad is filled with the plating material, and acts to 'receive the strain of lateral pressure direct from the surface of the plating, thereby preventing any lateral thrust from extcndng beyond the particular portion of theplating subjected to that action.

The center of the pad, when cored to facilitate the casting of the wedge-shaped ribs c, is

covered with a thin metal plate, to prevent the oozing of the platin g material from the surface 'while underpressure.

As the method of fastening the pad to the shank is somewhat different from that shown and described in the patent granted to me October 3, 1876, I will also explain that Inow aecomplish it by forming the recess m across the upper portion of the wedge-shaped end D, to correspond with the recesses w in the ribs '0, midway the length, and by inserting a key therein after the pad has beendriven onto the shank, so that the recesses in the ribs and that in the slank are on a line.

I am aware that the patent granted to F. B. Morse, August 29,1871,No.l18,632, describes andclaims a carriage-step with a grated or open-work surface of apeculiar pattern formed from wrought-iron on the end of a short unfinished shank, and re-enforced on its under surface by ribs extending from said shank; also, in combination with a step thus shaped, a detachable elastic pad, formed in such a way that it can be fastened thereto by being Sprung into place between the gratings.

I am also aware that the patent granted Geo. A. Keene, January 12,1875, Reissue No. 6,229, is the foundation patent on elastic steps, broadly covering the combination of a step or metal pad and an elastic plating or tread; but I am notaware that the said patents any- .where describe a carriage-step in which the i combination of a metal pad and an elastic platin g or thread, for the same is not the spirit of my invention.

I claimi 1. A carriage-step consisting of a metal plate provided With an eXterior retaining-wall and a plating of india-rubber or other suitable v formative composition, permanently fastened to the plate within said wall by heat 'and pressure, or by either, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a carriage-step, the combination of a metal pad provided with an eXterior retainin gwall, with a plating of india-rubber or some other suitable formative material, vulcanized, molded, and permanently fastened under heat and pressure, or by either, to the plate within said retaining-wall, substantially as described.

3. In a carriage-step, the combination of a metal plate, provided with alternate grooves and ridges or other roughened surfaces, with a plating of india-rubber or other formative material molded thereon by heat and pressure, or either, substantially as described.

4:. The combination, in a carriage-step, of a metal pad provided with perforations opening from the surface of the plate, or froma channel enlarged on the under side of said plate, as shown, with or without connecting-channel, with a plating of india-rubber or other formative material, united thereto by heat and pressure, or by either, and filling said holes and Channels, or either, for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a carriage-step in which the treadingsurface of india-rubher or other plating is not eXtended over the edge of the metal-supporting plate or pad, the combination of the meta-l pad provided with perforations, and the said plating, substantially as described. i y

6. In a carriage-step, the combination of a metal pad provided with an exterior retainingwall and the holes b, with a plating or tread ofindia-rubber united thereto by heat 'and pressure, or by either, substantially as and for the purpose described. i

7 In a carriage-step, the combination of a plate provided with the holes I) and a roughened surface, such as described, with a platin g of india-rubber or some other suitable formative material united thereto by heat or pressure, or by either, substantially as described.

8. The combination, in a carriage-step, of a metal pad provided with the holes b, with a v strip of fibrous material woven in and out of said holes, and a plating of india-rubber or other suitable formative material united to said plate, and incorporated insad step by heat, pressure, or either, substantially as de.- scribed.

9. The combination of ametal pad provided with ribs, recessed' as shown, a shank recessed on its upper surface, as described, and a key for looking said pad to the shank, as set forth.

FRANGIS A. SAWYER, 2D.

Witnesses: i

F. F. BAYMOND, 21), A. J. OETTINGER. 

